Review & Swatches: MAC Chen Man Love and Water Nail Lacquers

A limited edition Nail Lacquer shaded to match the sensual spirit of the exclusive M∙A∙C Chenman collection. The Chinese symbol for love appears on the outer sleeve.

This review is for the 2 new nail polish colors releasing with MAC’s upcoming Chen Man Love and Water Collection. This post includes photographs and swatches of the following colors:

Pinkly Fresh: Mid-tone blue pink

Breezy Blue: Dark blue

Packaging:8.5/10

These polishes come in standard glass MAC jars with rubbery-plastic twist-off caps. I think the design is a little funny (the jars narrow as you go top-to-bottom), but this is a completely personal preference, so I don’t consider that in determining a score. What I do consider is the bulkiness of the top, which is what you hold onto when you’re applying the polish. It’s wide, which makes it more awkward to hold onto when you’re applying.

The outer box packaging is decorated with a watercolor design.

Quality: 8.25/10

Pinkly Fresh is a standard bubblegum pink with a cream finish.

Breezy Blue is a strong navy blue that leans significantly purple. This also has a cream finish, but dries to a more flat surface and doesn’t have the “juicy” quality of Pinkly Fresh.

Both colors need at least 2 layers to even out the finish. More likley than not, you will end up applying 3 layers of Pinkly Fresh.

Breezy Blue is certainly the more unique of the 2 colors; Pinkly Fresh is a very standard pink that can be found in any other nail polish brand’s lineup.

Ease of Use: 8.75/10

MAC’s polishes have a long plastic brush applicator. The applicator’s length gives you less control over the application than a shorter brush would.

The first layer’s unevenness for both these colors means you’ll need to at 1-2 more coats.

Price: 6/10

Standard MAC nail polishes used to be $14.00 each and still contain 0.34 fl oz. They now cost $15.00 $16.00 each. I think this is a close-to-absurd price to pay for a single nail polish. Even high-end nail polish companies like OPI, China Glaze, and Essie don’t charge that much for their nail polishes.

Blech…now that I look again, you’re right on the finish of Breezy Blue. I hadn’t noticed how flat it looks…actually looks a little rubbery (kinda like the caps on the polishes…of which both of us are so fond. :-p)